t
Fage 5
At this time, the option of voluntary repatriation is open only
We believe that that are significant numbers of
for
Lactians.
are
Laotians in camps who may be able to return home and We
prepared to do whatever we can to assist in making this possible.
The number of individuals who have so far come forward to
volunteer for return to Laos remains however disappointingly low,
in part perhaps because many continue to harbour the hope of
nevertheless UNHCR's belief that this
resettlement.
It is
channel must be kept
encouraged
to view
open and Laotians in camps should bs
voluntary
seriously as
repatriation
a
realistic option.
In the twelve months since we last met, namely July 1985 through
June 1986, a total of 30,746 Indochinese refugees were resettled
from Thailand, exceeding the number of refugees resettled
from
This is
аг
all other first asylum states in the region combined.
achievement the International Community can be proud of and which
has been made
many
of
those
present here today. However
by the cooperation of possible
93.2% of all the refugees who
departed for resettlement went to four countries, highlighting
once again the need for broader participation in this effort.
The decision
announced
in
Government to
all open
late February by the Royal Thai
Ministry of Interior
camps
for
resettlement greatly enlarged the pool Of candidates for
departure to third countries. While this move
particularly
by
was welcomed, most
for
refugees who had been waiting many years
their resettlement release, it has made it even more crucial that
us inolved in the resettlemenet effort work together
ensure that the finite number of resettlement places is used
those refugees for whom this is the most appropriate option.
all
of
to
for